Envelope



I July 9, 1935.

E. DREISBACH ENVELOPE Filed Nov. 25, 1955 EJUEKEM Figure 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented July 9, 1935.

PATENT OF FlCE ENVELOPE Ernst Dreisbach, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor ofone-fifth to Robert W. Englehart, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application November 25, 1933, Serial No. 699,642

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new type of envelope in which the singlesealing flap of ordinary envelo'pes is replaced by a double safety flap.

The envelopes in ordinary use have been found to possess certaindisadvantages. In order to in sure ease in opening, the flap is usuallyleft unglued near the top on both sides so that the envelope when sealedWill'allow the insertion of a letter opener. When it is desired to sealthe envelope tightly all around, as is done in registered mail, it hasbeen noted that when the letter carries money or other valuablecontents, itis necessary to deposit an adhesive on the unglued spotsalong the edge of the flap to insure a tightly closed envelope. Ordinaryenvelopes can be readily tampered with since it is a comparatively easymatter to insert a pencil or letter opener and ease open the flap andlater add glue and seal it again. In the case of ordinary envelopes itis possible too for anyone to ascertain, without very much difficulty,the contents of the envelope. Another failing of the flap used onordinary envelopes is that it does not protect the contents of injuredby the letter opener.

the envelope on the opening of the letter, and the there is no space forthe insertion of a letter opener.

Now I have invented a new kind of envelope which has none of thedisadvantages stated.

The new envelope is distinguished by having a double sealing flap, so tospeak, instead of the single sealing flap now used.

l as any ordinary envelope.

by bending part 0 over part D on line c.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank.

Fig. 2 is a rear face view of the sealed envelope. This envelope has thesame side flaps B and E Instead of the usual single sealing flap,however, it has a double flap consisting of parts C and D which may bemade Part C having glue all around the sealing lines seals the envelope.Once sealed, the envelope is tightly closed all around. The uppersurface of part C and the lower surface of part D afford, however,

a space which can be small enough to allow for the insertion of a letteropener or can be large enough if desired to allow for the insertion of afinger for opening the letter. In either event the envelope is openedcleanly with no ragged edge and the contents cannot possibly be cut ordamaged. Part C sealing all the way up to line at gives full protectionto the contents of the letter, since no part of the contents can betouched by the instrument used in opening the letter. The 5 double flapformed by part C and D may if desired be extensive enough to holdconsiderable parts of flaps B and E under cover making it possible totamper with the contents only if the double flap is opened. Suchtampering is almost 10 certain to leave evidence of itself since thedouble flap extends, in the preferred form of the invention, the wholewidth of the envelope. The double flap envelope will further confergreater sturdiness on the envelope and damage through bending andtearing is greatly lessened.

It is understood that the drawing and the foregoing description are onlyillustrations of the invention and are not meant to limit it in any way.The envelope can be made in any desired manner. It is possible to makeenvelopes of a wide variety of design within the scope of the invention.For example the edge of the top portion of the. sealing flap need notextend the full Width of the envelope. It may be desired to leave thistop portion of less width than the envelope to aid in ease of opening.Both parts of the double flap may extend the full width of the envelopeif desired, or only the top portion, or only the bottom portion,depending on the particular design intended to be produced.

In the broad form of this invention it is only necessary that theenvelope, of any design whatever, have a double sealing flap with thebottom portion, of any desired width, length or design, adapted to sealthe envelope, and that there be a top portion connected to the bottomportion so that there is'a space between the two, which allows forinsertion of the instrument used to open the letter. 40 g It isunderstood that the scope of the invention is limited only by thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. An envelope comprising a sealing flap, half of which is doubledunder, the under portion containing an adhesive along the edges of itsunder surface to permit of sealing the envelope, and the space betweenthe upper and lower portions of the sealing flap allowing for theinsertion of an instrument to open the letter, the lower portion of theflap preventing contact of the opener with the contents of the letter.

2. An envelope comprising a double sealing flap, the under portion ofwhich extends substantially to the top of the envelope, the undersurface of said under portion containing an adhesive along the edges topermit of sealing the envelope and the space between the upper and lowerportions of the sealing flap allowing for the insertion of an instrumentto open the letter, the lower portion of the flap preventing contact ofthe opener with the contents of the letter.

3. An envelope as described in claim 2, in which

